Imagine If California Milled Its Own Urban & Dead Trees?
Unlocking the local, environmental, and economic potential of trees already around us
🪵 California’s Lumber Supply Problem
Why Is California Importing 80% of Its Lumber?
California is a massive state with abundant natural resources, yet we import around 80% of our lumber. This means most of the wood used in homes, furniture, and construction projects travels thousands of miles and in many cases from other countries — costing more, creating emissions, and sending dollars out of state.
The Hidden Cost of Discarding Urban and Dead Trees
At the same time, millions of trees in California cities and forests die each year due to storms, drought, pests, fire prevention efforts, or development. These trees are often chipped, burned, or landfilled — wasting valuable material that could become beautiful, durable lumber.
🌳 The Untapped Power of Urban Wood in California
What Is Urban Wood and Why Does It Matter?
Urban wood comes from trees removed from city streets, parks, backyards, storm-fallen forest trees, and PG&E fire safety setbacks or other developed areas. Urban wood is about repurposing trees that need to come down or have come down anyway, giving them a second life.
Salvaged Wood Lumber as a Sustainable Resource
Salvaged wood — whether from storm damage, removals, or forest thinning and cleanup to prevent wildfire — can be milled into high-quality lumber. It’s a low-impact, high-value sustainable practice, helping California meet its wood needs in an environmentally responsible way.
🔄 A Circular Economy for California’s Wood
Turning Waste into Wealth with Local Lumber
Instead of sending wood waste to landfills or burn piles, we can mill these trees into flooring, furniture, paneling, and beams, or essentially, anything we need wood for. This supports local jobs and creates products with meaning and longevity.
How Local Wood Sourcing Reduces Emissions and Waste
By using wood from within the state, we reduce the emissions tied to long-distance transport. Local sourcing also keeps carbon stored in wood products instead of releasing it into the atmosphere through decomposition or burning.
🛠️ Small Sawmills and Local Lumber Producers Can Lead the Way
Creating Jobs Through Localized Milling
A shift toward local wood production would create thousands of jobs — from sawyers and kiln operators to carpenters, truck drivers, and retailers. These are hands-on, community-based roles that strengthen California’s economy.
Building a Stronger California Wood Industry, Together
Small and mid-sized mills across the state are already doing this work — but they can’t do it alone. With the right partnerships and support, these producers can work together to fill the gaps, scale responsibly, and meet local demand.
📐 Why Builders and Designers Should Specify Local Wood
How to Source Sustainable Lumber in California
Materials specifiers — architects, designers, builders — have a powerful role to play. By intentionally choosing California-grown wood, they can support environmental goals, reduce project footprints, create biophilic designs, and boost local economies.
Closing the Loop: From Tree to Table, All in-State
Urban and salvaged wood tells a story. When specified in construction or design, it connects people to place, strengthens supply chains, and keeps value within the communities where those trees once stood.
🌿 Building a Greener, More Resilient Future with Local Wood
The Environmental Benefits of Reusing Trees
Every board milled from a removed tree is one less piece of lumber imported. It’s also one more opportunity to store carbon in long-lived wood products, instead of releasing it through disposal.
Less Wildfire Risk, More Community Resilience
Dead trees left in forests can become wildfire fuel. By responsibly removing and utilizing them, we support both forest health and public safety.
💡 Together, We Can Make It Happen
We don’t lack trees. We lack a system to use them.
By working together — small sawmills, city arborists, woodworkers, designers, and builders — we can close the loop and create a truly sustainable California wood supply.
It starts with choosing local. It grows with collaboration.
Together, we can make a difference.
Far West Forest Products is proud to be part of the movement to reclaim, repurpose, and re-imagine the role of urban and salvaged trees in California’s lumber supply. Learn more at farwestforest.com.
